Pacific Amphitheatre facts for kids
Pacific Amphitheatre
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| Address | 100 Fair Dr Costa Mesa, CA 92626-6523 |
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| Location | OC Fair & Event Center |
| Owner | OC Fair & Event Center |
| Operator | OC Fair & Event Center |
| Type | Amphitheatre |
| Capacity | 8,042 (2013–present) 18,765 (1983–2013) |
| Construction | |
| Opened | July 29, 1983 |
| Construction cost | $11 million |
The Pacific Amphitheatre is a cool outdoor concert place in Costa Mesa, which is in Orange County, California. It's located right on the grounds of the OC Fair & Event Center. This awesome venue first opened its doors in July 1983, and the famous singer Barry Manilow was the very first performer to play there.
The Pacific Amphitheatre is a popular spot for concerts and shows. It usually operates from early July through early September each year. This is especially true during the big Summer Concert Series that happens at the OC Fair. Since it reopened in 2003, the OC Fair & Event Center has managed and run the venue itself.
This amphitheatre is often recognized as one of the top 10 international venues for ticket sales. This shows how popular it is around the world!
History of the Amphitheatre
The area around the fairgrounds has many homes. Because of this, the amphitheatre received many complaints from local residents about noise. This led to the venue closing down in 1995.
After being closed for almost ten years, the Pacific Amphitheatre reopened in 2003. This happened at the same time as the yearly OC Fair. To make sure the neighbors were happy, the venue now operates with fewer seats. It also has strict rules for monitoring sound levels.
In 2013, the venue went through a big construction project. They changed the shape of the grassy hills where people sat. This reduced the number of seats from about 18,500 to 8,200. They also created a new main entrance from inside the fairgrounds.
Famous Performances
Many famous artists have performed at the Pacific Amphitheatre over the years.
- Marvin Gaye gave his final concert here on August 14, 1983.
- Frank Sinatra performed on September 8, 1990.
- Whitney Houston had a show on May 17, 1991, during her I'm Your Baby Tonight World Tour.
- Bob Dylan played on July 28, 2003.
- Taylor Swift opened for Leann Rimes on July 31, 2007.
- Selena Gomez performed on July 24, 2011.
- Trevor Noah was on stage on July 16, 2022.
- The Fab Four, a tribute band, performed on August 3, 2024.
On June 30, 1984, a concert by Jefferson Starship at the venue was broadcast live across the country. The ABC Rock Radio Network shared the performance with many listeners.
See also
- List of contemporary amphitheatres
